Late-night Shooting, One Man Injured

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles detectives are investigating a late-night shooting in downtown Los Angeles, during which a 50-year-old man was seriously wounded, but expected to live.  The shooting was the second in as many nights.  

Local residents reported hearing several gun shots near the intersection of 7th Street and Main Street last night, May 20, 2010, around 11 p.m..  Patrol officers arrived quickly and detained two men a block away, near 7th Street and Spring Street.

Meanwhile, paramedics rushed the wounded man to a local hospital where doctors operated on him to remove a bullet.  The man, whose name will not be released, was expected to recover from the injury.

“We’ve had two shootings, one block apart, over the last two nights,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division.  “It’s difficult to say whether the two shootings are related.”  Detectives will compare ballistics to determine any relation.

The earlier shooting occurred in front of the Huntington Hotel, 752 South Main Street, when a blue van drove by.  The van’s occupants fired several rounds at the front of the hotel.  By the time police arrived, all parties had scattered and no one reported seeing the shooting.

“We don’t see very many shootings downtown at all,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “So we take every shooting very seriously, and we solve the majority of them.”  Homicide detectives were assigned to investigate the shooting.  Detectives were still questioning the two men detained after the shooting.  

“We want to thank the witnesses who were willing to step forward and provide information,” Lt. Vernon added.  

There have been seven shots-fired incidents downtown this year compared four for the same period the prior year.  Five persons have been injured, one of them fatally.  In spite of this spate of shootings, aggravated assaults and robberies remain below last year’s numbers.

The public is encouraged to report information to Det. Thayer Lake at 213-842-0727.  The public is also encouraged to report tips , anonymous or otherwise, to Crimestoppers
at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.